iPhones sweep list of 2011's best-selling smartphones in U.S.

Apple's current iPhone models were the three best-selling smartphones in America in 2011, with the iPhone 4 beating out the legacy iPhone 3GS and new iPhone 4S to become the biggest seller of the year.

In its annual "Mobile Future in Focus" report released on Thursday, telecom analytics firm comScore reports that Apple's hot-selling handsets also took the top two spots in the EU5 (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K.), while the recently debuted iPhone 4S took the fifth spot in the region despite only being available for less than three months.

The firm's MobiLens survey showed that the iPhone 4 was the most acquired smartphone in the U.S. and the EU5, with the two-year-old iPhone 3GS taking second place in both regions most likely due to the device's low price-of-entry.

Echoing earlier reports, Apple became the largest smartphone vendor in its home country, attaining over a quarter share of the market with 29.6 percent. The Cupertino, Calif., company also led the smartphone markets of the U.K. and Japan with 26.4 percent and 33.6 percent, respectively.

The iPhone maker's high sales can be attributed to an overall shift toward smartphones, as the devices overtook feature phones for the first time in many countries during 2011. Sales in America, for example, surpassed those of so-called "dumb phones" in July, 2011.

Total smartphone audience grew dramatically in the U.S. and EU5 over the second half of last year, with key factors like 3G and 4G availability and carrier subsidy pricing playing large roles in the shift. During the second half of 2011, the number of smartphone users in the U.S. grew 14.8 percent to account for 41.8 percent of total mobile users, while the EU5 saw a similar 13 percent bump to end the year with 44 percent.

Top-selling smartphones in U.S. and EU5 during 2011. | Source: comScore

With the share of smartphones on the rise, Google's Android platform proved to be the most successful OS, taking nearly half of the U.S. market and snagging the top spot away from the dying Symbian platform in the EU5.

Data suggests that the ballooning population of Android users are coming from RIM's sinking BlackBerry ship, though Apple's iOS also benefitted from the BlackBerry exodus as the Canadian phone maker's share of the market halved in the U.S. over 2011 to end at 16 percent.

As smartphones become more affordable, the rate of adoption is quickly making the industry a part of the mainstream consumer segment.

The drive down in hardware and carrier costs has allowed those demographics that have not traditionally been associated with the smartphone market to pick up a new device. Fastest growing segments were members of six-person households and those making less than $25,000 a year, and showed a 99 percent and 98 percent uptick, respectively.

Smartphone OEMs by market share. | Source: comScore

comScore notes that 2012 will be a significant year for the U.S. smartphone market as device adoption passes 100 million. The firm sees iOS and Android holding court over their competitors as the two companies' app ecosystems are far more robust than competing platforms.

As a closing note, the study mentions how many times the throne to the top smartphone OS has changed hands in the U.S. over the past six years; from Palm, to RIM and Symbian, to Microsoft, to Android. Apple has never laid claim to the title.

Even the ancient 3GS is kicking Android's butt! How embarrassing for fandroids everywhere.

To put it simply, Apple makes the most desirable phones and tablets on the entire planet.

Anybody can have a big mouth on the internet and claim whatever they want, but in the end, people vote with their wallets, and Apple is winning.

Samsung should get ready to film their next commercial soon. I hear that there's going to be some rather large lines outside of Apple stores in a few weeks and Samsung can get some good authentic footage for free, instead of the fake lines that they use in their commercials.

Even the ancient 3GS is kicking Android's butt! How embarrassing for fandroids everywhere.

To put it simply, Apple makes the most desirable phones and tablets on the entire planet.

Anybody can have a big mouth on the internet and claim whatever they want, but in the end, people vote with their wallets, and Apple is winning.

I always wondered about that. IRL most people opt for the iPhone and iPad yet if you go to any tech blog, you'll find the majority of posters claiming they own Android and Android is the best and iPhone sucks and they all have that ridiculous avatar of the Android logo swallowing Apple. What is the source of this disconnect? Could it possibly be that the majority of Android users are lifeless drones who spend their time trolling the comment section of tech blogs?

I always wondered about that. IRL most people opt for the iPhone and iPad yet if you go to any tech blog, you'll find the majority of posters claiming they own Android and Android is the best and iPhone sucks and they all have that ridiculous avatar of the Android logo swallowing Apple. What is the source of this disconnect? Could it possibly be that the majority of Android users are lifeless drones who spend their time trolling the comment section of tech blogs?

The majority of people who post on tech blogs do not represent real world users. Besides myself all of the people I know who have iPhones don't even care about tech blogs (hell, my wife gets downright sick of hearing me go on and on about tech blog this and tech blog that).

I've found there are a few, very simple clubs that love Android:

1) Super tech geeks who must have root access to everything
2) People who HATE Apple no matter what
3) People who don't want to spend money (although the free 3GS is changing that)
4) Google and Adobe employees

Out of those four groups, 1 and 2 are who you'll find posting on tech blogs.

I just run into them on general tech blogs like engadget among others.

That is one of the worst sites that I have ever had the displeasure of visiting. The comments section on that site is infested with some of the dumbest creatures on the internet. It is highly fandroid infested, and I'd rate the majority of comments there as being somewhere between preschool and kindergarden level.

Yes, I do believe that you're on to something there. Based on my own experience, I would agree with you. Some of those drones have even found their way onto this forum. How pathetic is that?

I would never in a million years ever join an Android forum.

That's exactly why I finally signed up on AI after years of coming here for Apple news. It began to seem as though there were more Android idiots posting here than iPhone users. It seemed this place needed more voices to tell what is really going on with the iPhone.

Lately, it is becoming more clear that the iPhone is smoking everyone. It wasn't long ago that even Wall Street was predicting the gradual decline of Apple from the wave of "open" products (Windows/Android).

As big as Apple is, it amazes me that most people still suffer from this same old group think idea that Apple will always fail. Of course, it is forever the 90's for the "experts"..... Much to Apples advantage, actually.

Interesting that the Evo 4G was the overall best selling android phone despite Sprint being tiny compared to AT&T and Verizon.

That's true, and didn't Apple's last quarter numbers indicate that the iPhone 4S is outselling the 3GS by something like 20 to 1? If that's the case, then the best selling Android phone is WAY behind the top iPhones.

No wonder it took nearly a year for the Samsung Galaxy S II to sell about half of what the iPhone 4S did in one quarter. And when iPhone sales in China hit all 3 of their top carriers, pity poor Android!

I think the Samsung Galaxy II is the best all-around Android smart phone. It would be better with ICS, but when you go Android you have to wait for a new OS if your phone didn't come with it.

Since I have an iPhone 4S, I'll likely be sitting out of the new phone market until Apple overs a 4G handset with decent battery life and the carrier offers a combined data plan with a cap or unlimited data appears again.

I always wondered about that. IRL most people opt for the iPhone and iPad yet if you go to any tech blog, you'll find the majority of posters claiming they own Android and Android is the best and iPhone sucks and they all have that ridiculous avatar of the Android logo swallowing Apple. What is the source of this disconnect? Could it possibly be that the majority of Android users are lifeless drones who spend their time trolling the comment section of tech blogs?

... when i realized the truth, which is what you just stated...

The fandroid geek losers are so distraught by the simple fact that THEY are the minority when they pull out their cheap plastic android phones to oa SEA of iPhones...

I think it gives them (android geeks) physical pain when their futile efforts FAIL to convince a mainstream person who doesnt have hours on end everyday to spend to customize and root their phones because we have real life activities going on, such as girlfriends and jobs and friends....

Why is it that android geeks spend their entire day, dedicate their entire lives, to trolling Apple articles, bashing anything apple while desperately trying to distort reality by trying to promote false android rumors as fact...

I dont get it.... the 2-3 times i found myself on an android blog I didnt see ANY Apple users...
But in Apple articles there seems to be more android geeks than us?... WTH...?

I don't understand all the Apple haters to be honest. I'm sure it's a bit of a paradox on more than one level.

Good tech includes good UI.

For instance, say you had the worlds best washing machine - I mean - the WORLDS BEST WASHING machine. This thing will not only clean your clothes in 3 minutes, dry them, but it also corrects the colour of the garment as it goes (mixed wash of course), it only uses 1/10 of the detergent other washing machines does, and if you put it on power saver mode - it'll even put your laundry on the line outside for you.

But there is one problem - can't get the door open. Obviously you can get the door to open, but you need a screwdriver with the right Torx, and when you close the door, you need to torque up the bolts again. Plus the washing machine needs to be cemented to the ground on install.

Remember though, it's the world best washing machine.

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Or you can buy the other worlds best washing machine that does all that, but comes with a key from the manufacturer to open the door.

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Which one do you think the techies like? Yup, they'll go for the one that requires a wrench to open the door, and concrete foundations. They will dismiss the ease of use as "pah, what happens if you lose the key?", and totally forget "what happens if you lose your Torx bit".

And techies are largely unique as well.

For instance, you want a new sports car. But it will come with ABS, Traction Control, Cruise Control, etc. These are considered good things. They make the car better than if it didn't have these things. It'll come with comfy seats (that are heavily researched to provide the support and comfort you need). The car has UI designed into it.

"Techies" are some of the only people who rail against good UI and ease of use........